Making a gun itself wasn't that difficult.
I had seen basic operating principles and designs like blueprints on YouTube and in books before, and apart from a few parts that needed to be made precisely, the required materials weren't that many.
Huh? Why did I watch those videos on YouTube? I was just watching foreigners camping in the forest as a hobby, but at some point, gun-related videos started popping up one by two in the recommendations, and later, videos showing designs, operating principles, and even disassembly and assembly of guns using 3D programs came up, so I watched them out of curiosity, okay?
'Besides, it's strange that in a world where such complex watches are made without issue, there isn't even a matchlock gun.'
Anyway, this Orario world is truly weird the more you dig into it. It's definitely medieval, but aspects related to daily life are strangely developed, and upon closer look, industrial products like gears and clocks are abundant.
'Moreover, pipe-based water supply systems and even showers... Could it be that it's not the Middle Ages but the First Industrial Revolution era?'
But then again, there are plenty of things you'd see in the Middle Ages, so that doesn't seem right either, and it just gave me a headache.
'...Wait, thinking about it, weren't matchlock guns made in the Middle Ages too? Why aren't they here for real?'
Anyway, since making a gun itself wasn't that hard, I was about to start production right away, but
'...What kind of gun should I make?'
When it came down to actually making it, no suitable one came to mind.
'First, the candidates are muskets, bolt-actions, and revolvers... First, muskets have the disadvantage of taking over a minute to reload, so they're out, leaving bolt-actions or revolvers...'
Generally, when people think of guns, they imagine assault rifles that fire bullets rapidly, but unfortunately, in this world, there isn't the technology to make thin, strong springs suitable for automatic firearms.
'It's not that there aren't thin springs, but there's nothing that can repeatedly withstand strong pressure and heat... I'll have to give up on this part...'
Unless they had technology at the level of the Second Industrial Revolution, this world hasn't even fully implemented First Industrial Revolution technology, so the guns I could make were very limited.
'What's the point of having knowledge... The technology to even attempt it doesn't exist in this world yet...'
Steel? Carbon? Alloys? Even with knowledge and craftsmen, the technical capabilities are lacking, so I can't even attempt it.
'Hmm... The only people who might be able to make it are gods like Hephaestus or Gobnew, but it doesn't seem like the gods have close ties with production Familia... And I don't have any blacksmiths I'm particularly friendly with... Plus, if I casually share this knowledge with anyone, it might become a hassle later, so for now, it's right to give up and wait for later...'
Anyway, due to these various reasons, most automatic firearms had to be abandoned.
'Hmm... Among single-shot firearms, what's powerful yet easy to carry...'
In terms of firepower, bolt-actions or shotguns would be good, but both are a bit ambiguous in reach for use in a dungeon where monsters appear at any moment and launch surprise attacks, so I decided to exclude them from the options.
'Then that leaves only pistol types...'
Pistols or revolvers have good portability, and their size is similar to or slightly larger than an average dagger, so they have the advantage of being quickly drawn and used in any situation, whether long-range or close-range, making them very suitable for dungeon use.
'Something that can be used for preemptive strikes, counterattacks, and ambushes... is there such a thing?'
As mentioned earlier, automatic firearms can't be made for now, so most of the pistols I know are unavailable, and among the weapons I can currently make, a revolver seems the most rational choice, but
'...Oh, right, the cylinder.'
I don't have the tools here to make the most important part, the cylinder.
'Should I just give up on making a gun...'
While I was agonizing over it for a moment, the pipe and L-shaped wood piece that first made me think of a gun caught my eye again, and
'...Ah!'
At that moment, a pistol I had forgotten came to mind.
'Right, that gun existed!'
A pistol that, when the trigger guard is pulled back, the barrel's coupling comes loose, opening the chamber, similar to a double-barrel loading method, but only holds one round, used only for hunting or competitions.
'Thompson Center Contender.'
A pistol made as simple as possible to increase reliability, created not for military use but for hunting and competitions from the start.
'It only loads one round, but its firepower is considerable because of that...'
It's that pistol from that famous movie series where a legendary killer goes on a rampage after gangsters break into his house and kill his dog, and in the final installment, during the duel, he fires one shot, reloads, and fires again.
'Since I'm making it for preemptive strikes or ambushes, I don't need to load multiple rounds, so for now, it's the most suitable gun for me.'
Fortunately, the pipe's size and length were appropriate, and the spring needed wasn't for the barrel but for the trigger part, so I started working right away without issues, and
'It's complete...'
Eventually, I was able to complete the gun as planned.
'I made the barrel the size for sniper rifle ammunition to increase firepower, so it's perfect.'
While I was satisfied looking at the completed gun,
'...I don't know what it is, but since you completed it, I'll congratulate you...'
'Clap, clap, clap'
'Huh, when did you come in...?!!'
Startled by Naza's voice suddenly coming from behind, I hurriedly turned around and tripped over my own leg,
'Cough?!'
And fell backward, hitting the back of my head on the desk and fainting.
.
.
.
Our morning starts earlier than others.
'Strange... It's about time for Kai to come wake me up...'
To pay off the debt even a little more, we have to work late and wake up early to work.
'Haham... Huh? It's already 6 o'clock...'
Actually, because our youngest wakes up too early due to his skill, we wake up about an hour earlier than usual... But since good things are good, I didn't say anything.
'Did he go out for morning exercise and not come back yet...?'
'Knock, knock, knock!'
'Kai... are you in there?'
But today, it was unusually quiet, so I went to check Kai's room.
'...'
'...There seems to be some presence, but what is it?'
He sometimes does things that are a bit off, but I know he's too kind-hearted to do anything bad, but feeling something strange, I quietly picked the lock and opened the door, and
'Click!'
'What the... You were in here after all?'
For a moment, I was relieved to see him sitting quietly at the desk making something, but
'Kai, why aren't you answering...?'
He was repeatedly carving, shaping, and assembling something in his hands with eyes as if bewitched by something.
'Wow...'
For a while, I blankly watched Kai working from the side, and before I knew it, he put the tools down on the desk, as if completed, got up from his seat, and started taking a stance.
'...What did he make? Looking at the handle, it's like a crossbow, but it's quite small for that... Plus, that pipe attached to the front... Is it a method that shoots harpoons or something, not arrows or bolts?'
That thing, resembling a harpoon gun I've seen before, had a wooden handle with a trigger like a crossbow, but the front part that should fire something didn't look like it used arrows or bolts at all.
'Slide...'
Moreover, there was one peculiar point: the trigger guard near the handle was particularly elongated downward.
'Click!'
The moment I thought it had a peculiar shape, as if answering that it was made that way for a reason, he pressed the trigger guard with his index finger, and the front part with the pipe lowered down. Kai picked up a cylindrical wood piece with a pointed top from the desk, inserted it into the pipe, then used the recoil from a wrist snap to recombine the pipe and handle parts, and pulled the trigger, but
'Click!'
'...It's complete.'
Contrary to expectations, nothing was fired, but seeing Kai's satisfied look, I lightly clapped my hands.
'...I don't know what it is, but since you completed it, I'll congratulate you...'
'Clap, clap, clap'
'Huh, when did you come in...?!!'
But Kai was startled, missed his step, and fell over,
'Cough?!'
And hit the back of his head on the desk, fainting.
'...Huh?'
.
.
.
For some reason, as soon as I regained consciousness, I felt pain in the back of my head.
'Ugh...'
'Oh... You finally woke up...'
But without a moment to feel the pain, I immediately opened my eyes at Naza's voice coming from right in front, and
'...Senior, what are you doing now?'
Sure enough, Naza was right in front of me.
'You tripped over your own leg and fell, then fainted just like that, so I was watching over you for a bit...?'
...Naza, who was giving me a lap pillow,
'...If you put it that way, I have nothing to say.'
'Then just stay still and receive some petting...'
Saying that, Naza started gently stroking my head.
'I'm not a kid, you know...'
Come to think of it, this person is one of those who treats me completely like a child.
'Kai, how old are you...?'
'14 years old.'
'How old am I...?'
'...18 years old.'
'Then by my standards, you're a kid, so stay still...'
'Damn... I'll definitely grow taller somehow...'
So, I gave up on the hopeless age issue and resolved to grow taller, which at least has possibility.